AnotherJohn.Com

I appreciate when people can do things like this. Stay blessed...john

So, we all have this one life, right? We might as well enjoy it, or at least try with these 25 ways to make sure you enjoy life. And who says you can't learn anything by reading this blog?  Not me.  In fact, watch this video to learn how to worship .  I can't promise there won't be a pop quiz.  Pay attention. And if you need a cute fix for the day would this bear cub's late reaction help? 

Do you ever wonder if people listen to you? Some of us talk a lot, a whole lot! There are those of us who have important things to say and some who keep the rest of us entertained by what they say. Many of our words challenge, encourage and support people (while others do the opposite). With so much to say, the question is bound to come up. Of course, that’s a question many preachers often ask themselves. “No offense; anybody can listen to your sermons.” That was a comment a friend gave to me in a recent conversation. That was probably the best compliment I’ve received in a couple of years. Sure, I hear the “good job” courtesies and “I liked that” comments all the time; and you know how I feel about those. My friend’s worry was that I might take that as a back-handed compliment. You have to remember, though, I’m a big boy. It has been this person’s experience that some preachers are real good at proving how sophisticated and intelligent they could be. My thought is if ...

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-21 Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? 2On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; 3beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: 4‘To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live. 22The Lord created me at the beginning* of his work,* the first of his acts of long ago. 23Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 24When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth— 26when he had not yet made earth and fields,* or the world’s first bits of soil. 27When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, 29when he assigned to the sea its ...

Every once in a while some professor will leave a few books out on a table at school. A small note is added to the stack: FREE Last Monday I took my last--my only--Final Exam of the semester. As I blissfully danced by the room where the often wonderful piles of free books are, you guessed it, there were a few selections. You don't need to know how many, but imagine enough to fill my backpack (don't judge me). One of the selections was With One Voice: A Lutheran Resource for Worship. It reminds me of The Faith We Sing . For funsies I look through it to read through the hymns (don't judge me). I've become more familiar with the UM Hymnal by doing that. Also, I had never used The Faith We Sing before we came to Irving; so, I'm always looking through that as well (Please, stop judging me). Before my hardcore Methodists brothers and sisters get on me for considering bringing Lutheran music into a Methodist worship service, let me just say get over it ass...

So, for years we have wondered where all the church members have gone. Well, maybe this is an answer. Funny. Typically, I have a peppermint or Jolly Rancher in the pulpit (that I carry out when I leave of course) or a small piece of gum in the back of our sanctuary. I don't keep anything in my pockets; if it's gum or candy I WILL forget and leave it there and end up staining my shirt with the inevitable gooey mess.  What's your method of choice?  A waiting wife?  Dollar Store bottle of Scope?  Run away from the crowds? I'll have to share with you the story about the youth who was embarrassed to tell me about something I had in my nose.....or not.  Stay blessed...john

Remember the volcano that caused so much trouble a while back?  Doesn't it seem like a lifetime since that happened? We've moved on to the next big story and continued our fighting and ranting against each other. That said, I want you to take your mouse--be it wireless, or a cheap knock-off, property of your local library or the little pad on your laptop---and click on the following link: The Iceland Volcano is God's Judgment . You might not be glad you did, but I'll be glad for you.  Stay blessed...john

I recently heard a sermon over John 5 .  This is the story of the man who had been "ill" for 38 years; Jesus came to him one day and asked him a powerful question.  The sermon offered a wonderful chance to be imaginative. Since the man, presumably, had been in that area for all that time, he might have been there when Jesus was brought to the Temple when he was 8 days old.  He might also have been around when Jesus strutted his preteen teaching Savior skills in the Temple while his parents went crazy looking for him.  Regardless, those days, and the day in John 5, the man does not know who Jesus is. How has knowing Christ changed you?  Can you imagine not knowing him? Jesus asks the man, "Do you want to be made whole?"  For many of us, our translations give us the question "Do you want to be healed?"  Did he want to be healed?  Well, duh!  Notice, however, the man never answered the question.  But the questions is important....